Rotary gas-meter.



EJ B. DE LA MATYR.

ROTARY GAS METER.

" APYLIUATION FILED 0015.10, 1912,

Patented Mar. 1T, 1914.

E. B. vDE LA M ATY'R. ROTARY GAS METER.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 10, 1912.

1,090,780. l Patented Mar.17,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. B. DELA MATYR. ROTARY GAS METER. APPLIOATION FILED ocT. 1o, 1912.

l 090V 780. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

E T F ,l 6 4 SH E S-SHBBT 3.

E. B. DE LA MATYR. l

ROTARY GAS METER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED ocT. 1o. 1912.

` 1,090,780., Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Iwan/r ELIAS B. DE LA MATYR, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Romair 'eas-METER.

Application filed October 10, 1912. Serial No. 725,077.

simplicity, cheapness of manufacture, re-` duced liability to get out of order, increased ease and economy in repairing, greater ease of regulating, increased room for condensation, increased ease and certainty of testing on prover, avoidance of over expansion of the diaphragm under high preure, increased security against leakage through the valve, minimum friction, and increased convenience and ease of withdrawing and replacing the drum for observation and repair.

Other objects and advantages may appear from the subjoined detail description.

By this invention there are introduced into the art certain advantages and novel features which may be enumerated as follows 1. Regulation without opening the case. 9.. The drum diaphragms are fastened to the walls of the chambers without solder or screws and are easily applied and removed. 3. A reduction in the sizev of the case is made possible by connecting the op posite diaphragms by one diagonal cross wire and two bell-crank levers. 4. Increased room for condensation is provided -at the bottom of the case, and a downwardly and outwardly received track for a diaphragm depressing wheel to run on to resist` high pressure and to force rotation of the drum in case of sticking, is secured by mounting the measuring drum with its axis above the center of the circular case. 5. The

f measuring pans are so formed and disposed the diaphragm's or valves or any defect before inclosing the measuring drum in the case; facilitate the final incasing of the measurin drum and lalso to support the shaft an( remove pressure on the stuffing box. 7. Rollers in the form of wheels are provided to act on the case to force the drum to revolve where that is necessary; as in case the drum sticks. 8. A regulating screw is provided and the same has a stop to prevent the screw from being screwed too far so as to give expansion or separation of opposite diaphragms beyond full capacity, in the operation of regulating the meter, thus to prevent adjusting the meter to run faster in- Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 17, 191%.

stead of slower as intended. 9. The case is so constructed and arranged that the drum can be easily gotten at for observation and repair. l0. The pans are extended inwardly and the valve seat is set on the pans instead of being connected therewith by channels. 11. The bellows or drum diaphragms or outer flexible walls are secured by wires in grooves outside the mouths of the shells thus simplifying and strengthening the fastenings and allowing the drum diap'hragms to be easily assembled, removed, and replaced.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure l is a bi'oken plan of a gas meter constructed in accordance with this invention, the regulating key being shown in place. Fig. 2 is a plan section of the meter approximately on line m2, Figs. 3 and 8. Fig.3 is a section of the meter` case and mechanism; the case being sectioned approximately on line :n-mt, Fig. l; the keyho-le being shown as plugged and sealed; and the mechanism being sectioned approximately ony line .raf-x3, Figs. 2 and 6, and showing the action in case of sticking. Fig. et is a sectional detail from line :v3- m4, Fig. l, of a portion of the case and the regulating key in place, and also showing the end of the adjusting screw engaged by the key. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic -view showing in solid and dotted lines respectively, two positions `through which the revolving part of the meter may pass and indicating the movements of the operative parts of the bellows. Fig. 6 is an axial plan section of the bellows detached. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation approximately on line 037, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6. Fig. 8 is a. broken perspective View of the meter illustrating the construction and operation of the bellows; the regulating key also being shown in place. Fig. 9 is a plan sectionon enlarged scale of the valve mechanism attached to the case and ready to receive the bellows the section being on the same plane as in Fig. 2. Fig. 1() is an elevation ofthe stationary valve that is fixed to the case, a fragment of which is shown. Fig. 1l is an elevation on reduced scale of the valve att-ached to and revolving with the bellows compartments, fragments of which are shown.

The drum 1 of the meter is provided with pairs of oppositely arranged bellows comprising inwardly reduced separately formed sheet metal pans or shells 2, 3, having at their inner smaller ends, po-rts 4 on opposite sides of the drum aXis and also having flexible peripheral walls 5 closing the outer ends of said shells and thus completing the measuring chambers..l Rigid plates 6 are centrally located on said outer walls; and the plates of oppositely arranged shells are acted on by bell-crank levers journaled at 7 on said shells and provided with arms 8 to contact with said plates 6 respectively to alternately depress said walls into said chambers; therepreferably being antifriction rollers 9 constituting parts of said arms 8, and said bell-crank levers being provided with crank arms 10 outside the chambers.

The bell-crank levers on opposite sides of the meter are connected by rigid means as diagonal cross-wires that may be variously constructed, such as'the adjusting connecting rod shown in the drawings as formed of the rigid member' 11, nut 12, adjusting screw 13 and swivel 14; or the connecting rod formed with the right and left threaded nut 15 and the right and left threaded niembers 16, 17, screwed thereinto. Said rods pivotally connect the oppositely arranged bell-crank levers; the ends of'said connecting rods of either type being pivotally connected with the outside crank arms 10 of the bell-crank levers. The cross-wires are adjustable to adjust the meter.

An adjustment stop 13 is located at such` a point on the screw 13 as to prevent the cross-wires from being over ylengthened. Otherwise if the meter runs fast that is to say, if it indicates a greater amount than passes through the meter when the intake diaphragm is fully expanded, further lengthening ofthe cross-wire simply allows the expelling diaphragm to remain partly inflated after it passes the discharge port and if the cross-wire were further lengthened the error would increase, the only remedy being to change the index gea-r. The stop 13 avoids this diiiiculty.

r1`he meter has an inlet 18 and outlet 19 and valve means to connect therewith ports of opposite chambers respectively. The supply conduit is formed `of the inlet pipe 18 and the inlet chamber 20, in one wall 21'v 27 and screws 2 8 a two port valve member 29 having an inletport 30 communicating with inlet port 26, and an outlet port 31 separated from the chamber 20 by the diaphragm. Between said ports are located the solid valve faces 3'2, 33 of greater width respectively than said ports 30, 31 'and alsoI of such size and shape that they are adapted to close the ports 4 when the same register therewith; there being outer and inner circular connecting faces 34, 35 between said valve faces 32, 33; all the faces 32, 33, 34, 35, being in one plane and adapted to hermetically lit the Valve seat. Centrally of the valve and centrally between the ports 30, 31, is located a journal bearing 36 for the 'axis 37 upon which the drum revolves.

A journal bearingsupport in the form of an arm 38 is soldered or otherwise fixed to the ring 23 and, through it and the screws 24, to the wall 21 to support a journal bearing post 39 that is fixed to said support 38 and is coaxial with the bearing 36, there being a chamber formed between vthe bearing 36 and the bearing post 39 to receive a spring 40 that normally tends to force the valve 29 toward and to hold it in contact with the valve seat 41 that is fixed vto the shells2, 2, 3, 3, atthe axis of the drum; said valve seat 41 being provided with ports registering with the ports 4 and indicated by the same character in order to avoid confusion, as said ports in the valve seat and shells are practically the same. The spring tightly holds the valve in place and it and the iexible diaphragm allow perfect adjustment of the valve .on its seat. The bearing 36 terminates in a cylindrical projection at the axis of the valve 29 and such projection forms a journal extending into a bearing 42 formed in the valve seat 41; said valve seat also being provided with an orifice 43 in which is xed said axis 37 that is extended through a brace 44 which is fixed tothe shell of the drum. The axis 37 is extended at one end beyond the valve seat and into the bearing 39 and is extended at the 'other end beyond the brace 44 and through a bearing 45 in a support 46 forming a part of t-he drum-carrying fra-Ine. The axis 37 extends beyond said support 46 and is proyided at its end with the usual crank 47 that acts on the index crank 48 to turn the index mechanism 49.

The drum-carrying frame comprises a head 50 carrying the wall 21 and the inlet chamber 20, two brackets 51, 52 and the support 46 which is detachably connected with said brackets by any suitable means as i nel 58, and

screws 53. Said drum-carrying frame supports the meter drum independently of theA .meter case shell which is composed of the circular wall 54 and the outer head 55 hermetically fixed thereto and carrying the in- 57, 58 and the circular wall 54 is permanently and hermetically sealed in the chan- A is detachably secured. in the channel 57 by screws 59; the joint being hermetically sealed in any usual manner, such as by the use of an asbestos or other vsuitable gasket, not shown, or by red lead.

It is understood that the shell will be. put in place under pressure by suitable clamps, not shown, before the screws 59 are applied.

The outlet port 31 of the valve 29 opens adjacent the rear head 50 so that when the case shell is in place on thehead` 50, said port opens into the case. A gas outlet 60 in said head 50 communicates with the outlet conduit 19 which is ,shown as a pipe corresponding to the pipe 18 of the inlet conduit; the inlet and outlet being of the usual form of gas meter inlet land outlet pipes adapted to be connected by unions, not shown, with the main on the one side and the service pipe on the other side.

vWhen `the case shell 54 and outer head 55 are not in place on the head 50, the outlet port 31 opens to atmospheric air, but the meter is in perfect operative condition for measuring all the fluids which may be passed through the inlet Ypipe 18 and it is only necessary to connect an index with the shaft crank 47 in drder to register the amount measured,

The two valve ports 30, 31 are arranged in horizontal alinement with, and on diametrically opposite sides of the bearing 36 and there are preferably two pairs of the chambers 2, 3 and four chamber ports 4 which communicate with the interior of said chambers respectively. Each of the ports 30 and 31 covers somewhat less than one-fourth of the areacf the valve 29, and consequently there is always at least one of the ports of thebdrum in communication with an inlet port 30 and the ports are symmetrically disposed around the center so that the relation of any chamber to the inlet port 30 corresponds to the relation of its opposite `chamber port to the outlet port 31. Two of the drum port-s may be in communication with the inlet port and two with the outlet port at the same time. All of the ports are of practically the same size and owing to the horizontal alinement of the ports 30 and 31, there is always in communication with the inlet port 30 a chamber which is at one side of a vertical and above a horizontal line drawn through the axis 37; and likewise, there is in communication with thel outlet port 31, a chamber that is below said horizontal line and at the other side of said vertical line, so that the initial filling is accomplished through an up er chamber and the initial discharge is tlirough the diametrically opposite lower chamber. The crank arms 8 and 10 of each bell-crank lever are in about the same plane, the crank arm 10, however, being bent inwardly nearer to the axis 37, than is the arm 8 that acts on the diaphragm 5, through the plate v6, and consequently as the upper .chamber fills, the diaphragm wall 5 thereof is expanded, thus forcing outward the crank arms 8 and 10 with the roller 9. The bell-crank levers are all journaled rearwardly on their chambers respectively and project forward from their bearings 7 the outer crank arm 10 being shorter than the inner arm 8 and terminating rearwardly of the center of its diaphragm, and the connecting rod between twocran'k arms extends diagonally across the'l end of the meter drum. As a diaphragm of a chamber 2 is expanded by iniowing gas, the centers of gravity of the plate 6 and the extended arms 8 and l() with roller 9 and the materialof the diaphragm of said chamber are all moved further away from the axis 37, thus increasing the leverage of their weight and making it eifective to turn the drum. At the same time the connecting rod extending diagonally across to the opposite crank arm 10 of a chamber 3 operates inwardly the crank arms pertaining to the chamber 3, thus forcing the diaphragm of chamber 3 inward and expelling the gas and bringing the weight of the diaphragm, the plate and the crank arms closer to the axis, thus reducing the leverage of the appendages and that portion of the drum on the side from which the gas is escaping. `Consequently the drum is constantly over-balanced on the inlet side of the axis and is revolved by gravity, whenever gas can escape; the weight upon the inlet side always being effective to revolve the drum downwardly on that side.

It sometimes occurs that a meter may stick by reason of liquids of condensation forming on the faces of the valve and valve seat, and in order to apply the gas pressure to positively rotate the meter, the meter case shell 54 is made circular and smooth inside, and the axis of the meter is located above the axis of such ease shell 54, and standards 61 carrying impelling rollers 62 are mounted at the front ends of the plates 6 so that a roller is in position to contact with the cylindrical wall 54 of the case whenever full expansion'occurs with the diaphragm of yany chamber which is on the descending side of the drum so that when the roller of a diaphragm thus subject to expansion by the inflowing gas contacts with -the wall 54, said wall will operate as an inclined track receding downward away from the axis 37 of revolution so that the force applied to the roller 62 by the expanding/gas will cause said roller to run down along said track in order to give room for such expansion, thus at the same time applying the power to rotate the drum. The diaphragm is checked in its outward movement by reason of the limitations of its own dimensions and those of the opposite diaphragms, at some point below thehorizontal plane of the axis 37 ,so that when the roller gets to a determined point below the plane of the axis it will be free from the wall although the diaphragm is expanded to its fullest extent as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. The rollers 62 operate, however, only in case the drum sticks, for the reason that the weight of the diaphragm, the diaphragm plates, the crank arms, connecting rods, and the rollers 62,

operates to prevent the full expansion shown in the lower chamber 2 in Fig. 3, until such chamber 2 has passed farther down than is shown in solid lines in said Fig. 3; and then as the drum further rotates the weight or' all of the movable parts is combined to expand the lower and to deflate the upper chamber. In said Fig. 3, the inlet port 30 is barely open into the topmost chamber 2 and is well open into the lower chamber 2 and the outlet port 31 is well open into the topmost chamber 3 and is barely open into the lower chamber 3. By reference to Figs. 3 and 5, it will be seen that t-he Weight of all of the crank arms operates at the solid line position to oppose the admission of gas to both of thechambers 2, but that the opposition isgreater for the uppermost chamber than for the lower one of these chambers. The result in actual practice is, that the lower chamber 2 will not .fill to the extent shown in solid lines in said Fig. 3 until after the descending roller 62 has reached a position, indicated in dotted lines below said solid roller 62, where said roller cannot contact with the wall 54 by reason of the eccentricity between the drum and said wall, and consequently there is no contact at any time between the roller and the wall while the meter is running in normal condition without sticking.

Regulation of the meter may be effected by increasing or decreasing the expansibility of chambers 2, 3; and this may be efected by turning either the right and left threaded nut 15 or the screw stem 13 or both; and for convenience of eiecting the adjustment while the meter case is closed, said screw stem is provided with an angular head 63, see Fig. 8, and the case is provided with a threaded orifice 64 in which is pressed a bushing 65 seen bestin Fig. 4, carrying a reciprocating androtatin' key 66 insertible through the orifice, andlaving a socket 67 and at `the lower end of said socket an eccentric finger 68; said nger being adapted, when the key is properly turned to normally extend into the ath of the angular head 63 to arrest said ead and hold it in position to be lengaged by the key socket when the key' 66 1s depressed through the case against the pressure of the spring 69 that surrounds the stem of the key 66 and acts between the guide 70 andthe head 71 of the key to normally hold the key retracted from the stem. The angular head 63 is tapering and the key is rotatable to bring the finger 68 out of the path of the 'angular head so as to allow rotation of the meter while the key is inthe case. To regulate the meter while the case is closed the bushin 65 will be pressed into 'the'orice 64, sea ing the key therein, and

if it is found by the prover (not shown), that the meter registersin excess, the key will be turned to press the finger 68 into the path of the head 63. When the head 63 strikes said nger the key is then manually depressed and rotated by the operator to turn the stem 13 to lengthen the connecting rod, then the key will be released and rotated to bring the finger out of the way,

thus allowing the free rotation of the drum until the measurements are observed. If 1t is found the adjustments are too great, the operation just described is repeated,

with the exception that the key is turned in the reverse direction, to reversel-y turn the threaded connecting rod. When themeter has been properly regulated, the bushing is withdrawn and the plug 64' is sealed in the hole 64.

In order to fasten the drum diaphragm to the respective shells in the most convenient manner said shells are provided around their mouths with channels 72 to receive the margins of the diaphragms 5, and open spring rings 73 are provided to lit tightly withiny the diaphragm rims bent down into said channels. The diaphragms may be made as tight or as loose as may be required by simply adjusting the diaphragms properly 'on the mouths of the channels before the open rings are pressed into place. f

The outer channel wall of the frame head is provided with a notch 74, see Fig. 8, to receive a stop 75 so that the shell may be readily adjusted to the proper position on the head to hold the parts of the valve mechanism in true relation with the inlet port of the valve in proper communication with the drum ports.

The inner arms of the bell-crank are curved over the portions of the diaphragms between the chamber rims and the plates 6 so that the diaphragms will at no time touch and stick to the same. It is important that the diaphragms shall not contact with any surface from` which they might renonce pull loose in -operation as when they stand are likely to stick fast and become by pulling loose when the meter is next used.

The case is preferably made of rolled steel pressed into shape as required and the case shell may be drawn in one piece or the head thereof may be channeled and the cylindrical body inserted into the channel and secured by rivets 76.

The pans are constructed to be drawn from rolled steel so that they can be rapidly formed by machinery and it will be understood by the foregoing that the meter can be readily, constructed with but little waste of material, time or labor, and that the parts can be made and assembled without employing high skilled labor whereby the cost of production is minimized; while at the same time the efficiency is maintained, the weight and size are minimized, the liability to get out of repair is made a negligible quantity and the ease of repair is maximized.

In order tov gain access to the inside mechanism, it is only necessary to remove the screws 59, and withdraw the shell from the frame head. The bar 46 is then easily removed and the drum withdrawn if desired. Also the diaphragme may be detached by simply withdrawing the rings 73. By reversing the' operation, reassembly is efected.

By providing a. Hat side to the pans and mounting the Valve seat directly on such flat sides, the necessity of any long channel to connect the valve to the inlet is avoided. By thus minimizing the length of the 'passages through which the gas must flow, the friction of gas in such passages is minimized so a greater quantity of gas will iiow in the same time through the valve than can flow through a valve having gas passages of the same cross-sectioned area and greater length, thus increasing the capacity of the meter, as Well as reducing the cost of construction.

I claim:

1. A gas meter comprising a drum provided with pairs of oppositely arranged chambers having ports and also having leXible outer Walls; rigid plates centrally located on said outer walls; bellcrank levers journaled on said chambers and provided with arms to Contact with said plates respectively to depress said walls into said chambers; said bell-crank levers being also provided with crank arms outside the cham bers; rigid means pivotally connecting the outside arms of op ositely arranged bellcrank levers; a supp y conduit; a discharge conduit; and valve means to simultaneously connect the ports of opposite chambers with the supply and discharge conduits respectively.

2. A gas meter comprising a vdrum provided with pairs of oppositely arranged chambers havin ports and also having ilexible outer walls orming the periphery of the drum; rigid plates centrally located on said outer walls; bell-crank levers journaled on said .chambers and providedV with arms to Contact with said plates respectively`to depress said walls in said chambers; said bellcrank levers being also provided with arms outside the chambers; rigid adjustable means pivotally connecting the outside arms of opposit'ely arranged bell-crank levers; a supply conduit; a discharge conduit; and valve means to simultaneously connect the ports of opposite chambers with the supply and discharge conduits respectively.

3.' In a gas meter a drum comprising oppositely arranged pairs of measuring chambers, the walls of which chambers a't the periphery of the drum'are formed of Hexible diaphragms; diaphragm operated and actuating1 devices `te act centrally upon said diap ragms to depress them into the chambers; and adjustable means consisting of a single diaphragm cross-wire connecting the oppositely arranged diaphragm actuating devices for one pair of chambers to increase and decrease the space between such devices.

4. A gas meter comprisinga case and a chambered measuring drum mounted to rotate in the case; said case being provided with an inlet port and a discharge port and said drum having oppositely arranged pairs of chambers and ports, there being in the drum a port for each chamber; the combination with a valve-member carried by the drum and provided with pairs offports corresponding to and communicating respectively with the drum ports; of a two-port valve member the ports of which register simultaneously with opposite ports of the drum-carried valve-member; a flexible connection connecting the two-port valve-member with the case and forming a passage between one of the ports of said two-port valvemember and one of the ports of the case, the other port of the two-port valve-member being open to the other port of the case; means to prevent rotation of the two-port valve-member; and means to yieldingly hold the two-port valve-member against the drum-carried valve member.

5. A gas meter drum comprising measuring pans arranged around a common axis and each provided with a port; leXible diaphragms closing the mouths of the pans;

`rigid run-ways fixed to the diaphragme respectively and spaced apart from the margins thereof; bell-cranks journaled on the rims of the pans and provided with anti- `friction means to run on the run-ways respectively; inlet and discharge conduits; valve mechanism to connect the ports of oppositely arranged pans with said conduits respectively, and connecting rods extending diagonally across the drum and across each other and connecting the opposite bellcranks respectively.

j 6. A gas meter drum comprising tapering pans arranged around a horizontal axis and provided at their smaller inner ends with ports; means to hold the pans together; diaphragms closing the mouths of the pans; plates on the diaphragms respectively; bellcrank levers -journaled on the pans respectively and acting upon the plates respectively; crossed rigid connections respectively connecting opposite bell-crank levers pivotally together; and valve means to admit gas to one valve chamber and emit from the opposite chamber as the drum revolves.

7. The combination in a gas meter having oppositely arranged chambers provided with diaphragms; of bell-crank levers to depress the daphragms, a link connected at one end with an arm of one of said levers and provided with a Inut at the other end;

a link connected with an arm of the other bell-crank lever, and .an adjusting screw swiveled to the last named link and screwed into said nut.

8. In agas meter provided with a case having a key-hole, and a gas measuring drum journaled in the case and provided with oppositely arranged chambers having diaphragm walls; bell crank levers to depress said walls; a link connected with one of the bell crank levers and provided with a nut; a link connected with the opposite bell crank lever; a screw swiveled to the last named -link and screwed into said nut and provided with a head in alinement with the key-hole at one position of the drum; and a key sealed in and insertible through the keyhole and provided with a socket to engage said head,

9. In a gas meter provided with a case having a Akey-hole, and a gas measuring drum journaled in the case and provided with oppositely arranged chambers having diaphragm walls; bell crank levers to depress said walls; a link connected with one of the bell crank levers .and provided with a l nut; a link connected with the opposite bell crank lever; a screw swiveled to the last named link and screwed into said nut and provided with a head in alinement with the key-hole at one position of the drum; and a key sealed in and insertible through the keyhole and provided with a socket to engage said head, and also with an eccentric finger to stop the head when the key is turned to one position and to allow the head to pass when the key is turned to another position.

I 10. A gas meter provided with a case having a key-hole, anda gas measuring drum journaled in the case and provided with oppositely arranged chambers-having diaphragm walls; bell crank levers to depress said walls; a link connected with one of the bell crank levers and provided with a nut; a link connected with the opposite bell crank lever; a screw swiveled'to the last named link and screwed into said nut and provided with a head in alinement with the key-hole at one positionof the drum; a key sealed in and insertiblel through the key-hole and provided `with a socket to engage said head, and also with an eccentric finger to stop the head when the key is turned to one position and to allow the head to pass when the key is turned to another posltion, and a spring to retract the key. 11. A meter comprising a case head provided with an inlet port and a journal bearing; a drum composed of oppositely arranged chambers, the peripheral walls of which .are formed of flexible jdiaphragms; oppositel arranged arms connected with said head; a cross-bar connected with said arms and provided with a journal bearing; journals for said journal bearings to support said drum; and means detachably connecting the cross-bar with said arms.

12. In a meter a frame comprising a head and a gas conduit; a drum rotatably mounted on the head and adapted, thro-ugh valve means, to receive gas from the conduit and to discharge -the gas on further rotation, such valve means, a shell connected to the head .and inclosing the drum and adapted to 9 receive the gas so dlscharged, and means detachably connecting the shell to the head.

13. In a meter a frame comprising a head and a gas conduit; a drum rotatably mounted on the head and adapted, through valve means, to receive gas from the conduit and to discharge the gas on further rotation, such valve means, a shell connected to the head and inclosing the drum, and means detachably connecting the shell to the head so that the meter may be operated and may also be tested by a prover while the drum is not inclosed.

14. In a meter provided with a drum comprising oppositely arranged chambers having peripheral diaphragm walls; two bell crank levers and one diagonal cross wire connecting the diaphragms of oppositely arranged chambers.

15.' A meter comprising a circular case, and a lmeasuring drum mounted eccentrically in the case with its axis above the axis of the case thus providing below the drum maximum room for liquids of condensation at the bottom of the case. Y

16. In a rotary gas meter drum, a pan forming part of the drum and open at the peripheral end' and there adapted for connection with a diaphragm, and reduced in cross-section from such end toward the other end, one side of said pan being flat and'extending at'right angles to the drum axis,`

notarse mediate said flat and sloping sides converging toward said port.

l?. A gas meter comprising aA rotary measuring drum provided with pairs of chambershaving peripheral walls formed of diaphragms; adjustable means for the pairs of chambers respectively, to communicate motion from diaphragm to diaphragm of said pairs respectively; and means extending through the case and operable to adjust the length of said motion communicating means.

18. In a gas meter the combination( with a meter case head provided with a port; of a valve member provided with two ports; a diaphragm connecting the valve member with the meter case head and forming a conduit between the port of said head and one of the ports of said valve member; a measuring drum provided with oppositely arranged pairs of chambers, each chamber being provided with a port; a valve member mounted on said drum and fitting the valve member of said head and provided with pairs of ports communicating with the ports of said chambers respectively and registering with the ports of the adjustable valve member; resilient means to hold the adjustable valve member against the drum carried valve member: and means to hold the adjustable valve member against rotation.

19. In a rotary gas meter a drum provided with chambers having ports; diaphragms forming peripheral walls for the chambers; oppositely` arranged bell crank levers to depress the diaphragme; and connections connecting oppositely arranged bell crank levers; one of said connections being adjustable.

20. In a gas meter, an inlet chamber provided Wit-h a wall having an orifice; adiaphragm fastened across the orifice and provided with an inlet port; and a two port `valve member having an inlet port and an outlet port; said diaphragm being fastened to said two port valve member; the two inlet ports communicating with each other and j the outlet port being separated by the 'diaphragm from the inlet chamber.

21. In a gas meter, an inlet chamber provided with a wall having an orifice; a diaphragm fastened across the orifice and provided with an ,inlet port; a two port valve member havin-g an inlet port and an outlet port; said diaphragm being fastened to said two portvalve member; the two inlet ports communicating with each other and the outlet port being separated by the diaphragm from the inlet chamber;-a valve seat having pairs of ports; and a spring to yieldingly hold the valve member and seat together. i 22. A meter com rising a frame constructed with a circu ar head having an annular channel at its rim, and arms projecting from said head inside the channel; bearings supported `by the frame, a drum having an axis journaled in said bearings; a cylindrical case shell having a head at one end, and means detachably fastening the other end of the head insaid channel; there being valve means to control passage of gas through the drum from one side to the other side of the frame head.

23. In a gas meter provided with a re volving measuring drum having diaphragm walls, adjustable means connecting said Walls so that the iniiation of one will cause the deation of the other, and a stop to prevent over-lengthening of saidconnecting means.

24. A meter drum composed in part of shells fastened together and having fiat walls in a common plane; and a valve seat fixed to said fiat Walls; said valve seat and flat Walls having ports communicating with Y each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 5th day of October, V1912.

Ennis B. DE LA Marre.

' In. presence of JAMES R. TowNsEND, L. BELLE RICE. 

